Mixing atomizing rotor



Aug. 30, 1966 w. A. GRAHAM MIXING ATOMIZING ROTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 30, 1964 United States Patent 3,269,660 MIXING ATOMIZING ROTOR Ward A. Graham, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Stratford Engineering Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 366,217, Apr. 30, 1964. This application Oct. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 505,093 Claims. (Cl. 239-224) This is a continuation of Serial No. 366,217, filed April 30, 1964, entitled, Mixing Atomizing Rotor, now abandoned.

This invention relates to both apparatus for dehydrating and deg-asifying liquids (flash evaporation rotors) and also mixing and chemical reaction devices and refers more particularly to such apparatus wherein one or more liquids, gases, fine solids and mixtures thereof are introduced into a unique spray device in which same are mixed and from which same are discharged at high velocity in the form of greatly energized mist particles of microdimensions.

This invention is an improvement over the apparatus of Herbert W. Stratford Patent 2,990,011 issued June 27, 1961, Flash Evaporator Rotor, and the apparatus of Charles W. Stratford Patent 2,368,049 issued January 23, 1945, Atomizing Evaporator. This apparatus and invention, as well as process, are continuations-in-part of my application Serial No. 112,270 filed May 24, 1961 Gas Atomization Method and Apparatus and my application Serial No. 254,215 filed January 28, 1963 Multiple Orifice Atomizing Evaporator, as well as my application Serial No. 290,758 filed June 26, 1963, Multiple Orifice Atomizing Evaporator, all now abandoned.

The above-described patents and applications relate to what is known in the art as flash evaporators or atomizing rotors. However, in all instances to date, such rotors have been designed for a single homogeneous liquid feed. The general principle of these prior art devices has resided in the imparting of higher rotative velocity or energy to a liquid or fluid mixture by means of an atomizing rotor, generally consisting of a liquid accelenating disc and a shrouding disc spaced apart to form a narrow annular space therebetween. The liquid or fluid mixture to be separated, flash evaporated, dehydrated, deaerated or the like, has been introduced to the annular space between the discs and projected at high velocity from its periphery. Separation of constituents of any mixture is effected by imparting suflicient energy -to atomize the mixed fluid in such a manner as to present a relatively maximum surface per unit volume of the fluid. Such atomization takes the form of a continuous horizontal screen of minute particles extending from the rim of the energizing rotor to the inside wall of the enclosing vessel. The above applications also indicate improvements of atomizing through a multiplicity 'of orifices to obtain greater volume through a single rotor and gas atomization thereafter by use of a peripheral gas blast spaced immediately peripheral of the rotor itself.

The improvements presently described include process and apparatus for feeding, mixing and atomizing two or more totally dissimilar feeds, which feeds may be liquidliquid, liquid-gas, liquid-fine solids, gas-gas, and even gas-fine solids. Solid materials charged for mixing would have to be rduced to a fine state prior to charging as will be apparent in the following description.

The basic improvement and point of novelty in the instant disclosure comprises the provision of a rotor having the known liquid accelerating lower plate and known upper shrouding plate (or discs) the latter two conventional plates, however, spaced vertically relative to and including therebetween a novel central circular plate of lesserdiameter than the discs themselves. Such inner plate is typically fastened to the rotor drive shaft and the preferably equal diameter rotor discs themselves then fastened to said central circular plate which thus may be considered both as a drive and a disc separating plate. Such drive plate may be varied as to diameter. Materials to be mixed and atomized are fed to the rotor from both above and below the drive plate. The acceleration of the separately input lower and upper feeds out to the periphery of the rotor by the use of vaned members above and below the drive plate is also contemplated. Thus, feeds introduced into the rotor are maintained totally and completely separate from one another until they have traversed the distance to the outer edge of the drive plate. At this point, the separate feeds, being accelerated to, typically, velocities in the range of to 500 feet per second, are mixed in the extremely short time required to traverse the distance from the outer edge of the drive plate to the discharge gap of the actual rotor (defined by the peripheral edges of upper and lower discs thereof). Various other structural modifications include aids to increasing turbulence in the mixing zone outside of the drive plate yet within the rotor proper, feeding a multiplicity of substances into the single rotor from one side of the drive plate and providing a plurality of drive plates between the rotor discs whereby to feed more than two substances into the rotor and mix more than two substances within the rotor before discharge therefrom.

The basic object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an atomizing and mixing rotor which will receive two or more material feed flows separately therewithin, mix same within the rotor in a controlled space and within a controlled time to discharge same in an atomizing manner whereby to achieve a maximum degree of mixing and dispersion of the multiple feeds into one another.

Another object of the invention is to provide various types of improved mixing and atomizing rotors operative to accomplish a plurality of goals and objects with respect to the separate feeding of a multiplicity of separate substances into such rotors, mixing same with respect to one another in the rotors and atomizing the mixtures from the rotor.

Another object of the invention is to provide improvements in the structures of and process of using atomizing rotors wherein both mixing of feeds in controlled manner in the rotor and multiple separate feed flows thereto all heretofore uncontemplated are achieved-with many novel and valuable results.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stable, simple, powerful new atomizing rotor construction which also incorporates mixing and differential feeding capacities therewithin whereby to accomplish many and varied new results.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mixing and atomizing rotor which permits the accomplishment therewithin of many mixing and reacting processes, which processes also desirably may utilize the extreme dispersion and atomization characteristics of the known atomizing rotors.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description thereof.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, embodiments of the invention are shown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicate like parts.

FIG. 1 is a side view with parts cut away and in section showing a vessel for employment with the subject atomizing and mixing rotor.

'FIG. 2 is a cross-section through a first form of the subject atomizing and mixing rotor as mounted on a vessel as seen in FIG. 1.

.ing 20 centrally thereof.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows.

'FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of one side of the rotor of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side-sectional view of a first modified form of the subject mixing and atomizing rotor.

FIG. 6 is a side-sectional view of a second modified form of atomizing rotor embodying the instant invention.

FIG. 7 is a side-sectional view of a third modified form of atomizing rotor embodying the subject invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, at 10 is indicated the side wall of a vessel having an upper portion 10a thereof inclined both upwardly and inwardly relative to the interior of the vessel, and a lower wall portion 10b inclined both downwardly and inwardly relative to the interior of the vessel. On top of vessel 10 is motor mounting 11 which supports motor 12. Re-

ferring particularly to FIG. 2, opening 13 is formed in the top center portion of vessel 10 and mounting plate receiving rim 14 is fastened thereto by welds or other suitable attachment 15. Mounting plate 16 is fixed within rim '14 by bolts 17. Motor mounting 11 is welded or otherwise fixedly attached to mounting plate 16 by suitable attaching means or welds 1-8. Shaft 19 is a continuation of or fixed to the drive shaft (not seen) of motor 12 and is driven in rotation thereby. Plate 16 has open- Support tube 21 is fixed to plate 16 by bolts 22, extends therethrough, and has fitting 23 extending from one upper side portion thereof as well as outwardly extending rotor seal portions 24 at the lower end thereof. Pipe 25 is supported by bolt 26 relative to support tube 21 and surrounds shaft 19 with sleeve bearing 27 fixed to the inside surface thereof to maintain shaft 19 in proper rotational position relative thereto. Feed annulus 28, between the outer side of pipe 25 and the inner surface of tube 21, connects at its upper end with the bore of fitting 23 to permit feed therethrough of one fluid to be treated in the rotor to be described.

Drive plate 29 having central hub 30 is connected to the lower end of shaft 19 by means of an opening 31 positioned centrally of hub 30. Key 32 fits into slots in shaft 19 and hub 30 whereby to rigidly fix hub 80 and plate 29 with respect to shaft 19 in rotation of the latter. The lower end of shaft 19, below the zone thereof encircled by hub 30, is externally threaded whereby to receive nut 34 thereon whereby to secure hub 30 in vertical position on shaft 19, the upper portion thereof abutting against the lower surface of bearing 27. Bearing 27 makes a sliding friction fit on the top of hub 30 whereby to seal annulus 28 at the lower end thereof in the inner portion thereof. A plurality of accelerating vanes 35 are preferably (but not necessarily) fixed to the lower surface of drive plate 29, while a like plurality of accelerating vanes 36 are preferably fixed to the upper surface thereof as is seen in FIG. 3. The connection zone between drive plate 29 and hub 30 preferably comprises a smooth fillet curve both on the upper and lower portions thereof, as shown, and vanes 35 and 36 preferably extend from closely adjacent the termination of this fillet connection curve out to closely adjacent the periphery 29a of plate 29 where the upper and lower surfaces thereof incline inwardly and taper essentially to a knife edge.

Upper shrouding disc 37 is provided having an inner upwardly extending portion 37a with shelf 37]) formed therein to receive the outer extremity of seal lip 24 of support tube 21. The peripheral portion 370 of shrouding disc 37 extends downwardly and has a planed olf lower edge 3701 resulting in a substantial knife edge lip 37e. Shrouding disc 37 rests on the tops of vanes 36 and also has openings 37] therethrough to receive bolts 38. Lower disc 39, which would be called an accelerating disc in an old type rotor of the structure seen in the Stratford patents, supra, has downwardly extending vertical portion 39a internally thereof with shelf 39b formed therein adapted to receive the outwardly flanged lip 41 of feed pipe 40 below the rotor. The outermost peripheral portion 39c of disc 39 extends upwardly and has planedoff upper surface portion 39d whereby to produce knife edge orifice lip 39c. Bolt holes 39) are formed through disc 39 whereby to receive bolts 38 which have engaging nuts 38a on externally threaded ends thereof. The extension of reduced thickness zone 29a of drive plate 29 is spaced within the two beveled disc ends 37d and 39d whereby a pair of circumferential wedging passages are provided up to the mixing zone immediately short of the knife edges 37:: and 39e where zone 29a terminates. Drive plate 29 also has bolt holes 29b therethrough whereby to receive bolts 38.

In operation of the rotor of FIG. 2, a first fluid substance, gas, liquid or finely divided solid, is passed through fitting 23 into annulus 28 and thence into zone 42 defined between drive plate 29 and shrouding disc 37 at their inward ends. This fluid then passes between the accelerating vanes 36 and is accelerated by them outwardly to the termination of the vanes from whence the fluid passes into the wedging passageway defined between surfaces 37d and the upper surface of zone 29a of drive plate 29. A second fluid substance, gas, liquid or finely divided solid, is passed in through feed tube 40 from any suitable source and passes upwardly into zone 43 defined between the lower inner surface of drive plate 29 and the inner portion 39a of disc 39. From there this fluid passes between accelerating vanes 35 which accelerate the liquid or fluid outwardly to the termination of the vanes from whence same passes into the wedging passageway defined by bevel 39d and the lower surface of zone 29a of drive plate 29. Until the fluids pass off the knife edge end of zone 29a of drive plate 29, there is absolutely no contact or mixing therebetween as they are completely sealed off from one another in the rotor. Violent mixing and turbulent dispersal then follow as they pass out of the atomizing rotor through the atomizing orifice thereof. Preferably, such orifice is sized in the range seen in the H. W. Stratford Patent 2,990,011 for maximum atomization and mixing. Additional atomization may be achieved by use of processes as disclosed in my application Serial No. 112,270, supra. Neither support tube 21 nor feed tube 40 rotate with the rotor and, thus, fluid sliding seals are required on the shelves 37b and 39b with flanges 24 and 41.

While drive plate 29 may be terminated at any point between discs 37 and 39 to permit early or late mixing within the rotor, the form shown is optimal for mixing at the latest instant possible in the rotor, essentially simultaneously with dispersal through the atomizing orifice. Additionally, the wedging effect into the mixing and dispersal zone by use of inclined surfaces on drive plate 29 and discs 37 and 39 is optimal for greatest mixing pressures and forces. Unless the zone 29a tapers to essentially a knife edge, as is also the case with the edges 37e and 39e, it is difficult to obtain the latest possible mixing together with the finest gap orifice in combination. Zone 29a, however, may be entirely absent from drive plate 29 whereby all the wedging will be provided by surfaces 37d and 39d with still good results but additional mixing time provided in the rotor. This may not be desirable, or yet may be optimal for certain purposes. In an intermediate situation, the peripheral end of zone 29a of drive plate 29 may be rounded off or edge terminated any place in the wedging zone created by wedging surfaces 37d and 39d. Such variations operate to give intermediate times and zone spaces of mixing prior to atomization. Variable times of chemical reaction may be thus obtained within the rotor by varying the extension of plate 29 and its edge zone 29a. If substantially all of the chemical reaction is desired to take place externally of the rotor, the form illustrated is optimal.

Referring back to FIG. 1, pipe 44 connected to opening 45 in the upper zone of vessel 10 may altrenatively serve as a vacuum connection or as an input pipe for various substances such as steam or other gas. Such an input pipe may provide a neutralizing or cooling step in the vessel external to the rotor, wherein the discharge of the rotor is into a steam atmosphere, a chemically neutralizing atmosphere, or an evaporative cooling atmosphere, as examples. At any rate, the atomized discharge or discharges from the rotor orifice impact on the inner surface of wall portion a, then pass down wall 10 and into the inwardly inclined wall portion 10b. An opening is provided in the center lowermost portion of wall 1% to which is connected withdrawal pipe 46 which has pump 47 thereon. The product of the mixing and atomizing dispersion is thus passed from the vessel into any suitable collection point, not shown.

Referring to FIG. 5, therein is shown a modified form of the subject mixing and atomizing rotor. The accessory drive and feed equipment is not shown and will not be described with respect to this rotor and it is identical with that shown and already described with respect to FIG. 2. Referring then, to FIG. 5, an upper, shrouding rotor disc 50 is provided having an upwardly turned central portion 50a with shelf 50b formed therein. Bolt holes 500 are provided therethrough to receive bolts 51. The outermost portion 50d thereof is downwardly turned and has an outwardly and downwardly tapered wedging surface 50a thereon which aids in forming and defining an atomizing orifice, preferably of the type and dimensions described in the H. W. Stratford patent, supra.

The lower disc 52 has central downwardly turned portion 52a in which is formed shelf 52b. The outermost portion 52b of disc 52 turns upwardly and has upwardly tapered wedging surface 52:! thereon which cooperates with surface 50e to define the orifice already mentioned. Bolt holes 520 are formed through disc 52 to receive portions of bolts 51 and bolt engaging nuts 53.

Drive plate 54 has rounded ofl outer end 54a terminating well short of the orifice defined by surfaces 50e and 52e and is connected centrally by fai-red hub portion 54b to central hub 55 having passage 56 centrally thereof to receive the drive shaft of suitable power source, said opening or passage 56 also typically having key slot 57 extending outwardly therefrom.

Fixed to the under surface of upper shrouding disc 50 are a pair of preferably vertical, circular flanges 58 and 59, the former of greater downward length than the latter due to the downward taper of disc 50. Flanges 58 and 59 are preferably continuous and preferably extend downwardly a distance equal to the distance which will take them to the level of the lip of wedging surface 52e on disc 52 or therebelow. Connected to the upper surface of disc 52 inwardly of the periphery thereof and extending upwardly between flanges 58 and 59 is preferably vertical circular flange 60, also preferably continuous and preferably extending upwardly a suificient distance to extend to the level of or above the lowermost portion of wedging surface 502. Suitable shims 61 encircling bolts 51 space discs 50 and 52 a certain vertical distance from drive plate 54 whereby to adjust the relationships immediately described. Alternatively and preferably, accelerating vanes (not seen) may be provided on the upper and lower surfaces of drive plate 54 against which the discs abut to space them a desired vertical distance from drive plate 54.

In operation of the rotor of FIG. 5, it is assumed that fluid rotating seals are made at shelves 50b and 52b from feed pipes of the type previously described with respect to FIG, 2 and that hub 55 is connected by any suitable means to a drive shaft of a power source. A first fluid, either liquid, gas or fluidized solid, is fed into annulus 62 between the upper surface of plate 54 and the under surface of disc 50. A second fluid, liquid, gas or fluidized solid, is fed into the lower annulus 63 between the under surface of plate 54 and the upper surface of disc 52. These fluids, in the structure shown, mix well prior to their passage outwardly through the orifice defined here by the peripheries of upper and lower discs 50 and 52,

alone. Immediately after such mixing (following passage beyond zone 54a of drive plate 54) the mixed fluids undergo increase of turbulence and mixing due to their wedging impaction upon and outward travel around successive flanges 58, 60 and 59. Following this wedging, increased turbulence and mixing, the mixed fluids pass into a final wedging zone defined by wedge surfaces 502 and 52e. As noted, the two fluids are wedged toward one another in their entire passage through the rotor as discs 50 and 52 preferably converge toward one another on the inner surfaces thereof. The use of a rotor as constructed in FIG. 5 is thus indicated for fluids in which early and considerable mixing in the rotor is desired prior to atomization from the orifice defined by the rotor discs.

Turning to FIG. 6, therein is shown a third form of the subject mixing and atomizing rotor. Drive plate 64 has peripheral zone 64a and central base zone 64b, the latter faired into hub 65. Drive shaft 66 is rigidly connected into hub 65 whereby to drive same in rotation with key 67 optimally making up part of said connection. Lower disc 68 has peripheral atomizing orifice forming zone 68a and three sets of bolt holes 68b, 68c and 68d therethrough. Central inward portion 68a of disc 68 is downwardly formed and has shelf 68 formed therein to receive a feed pipe terminus of the nature of feed pipe 40 in FIG. 2. A plurality of curved wedging rings 69, 70 and 71 are provided mounted on disc 68 having sets of bolt holes therethrough through which bolts 72, 73 and 74, spaced by shims 75, 76 and 77, connect same to the upper surface of disc 68. It should be noted that shims 75 space upper ring 69 from the upper surface of drive plate 64, while lower shims 75 space drive plate 64 from lower disc 68. The outer or peripheral undersurfaces of rings 69, 70 and 7 1 very closely approach the upper surface of disc 68 whereby to provide two extra, separate atomizing orifice gaps (the orifices are exaggerated here for illustration purposes) prior to the final orifice gap of the rotor. Feed pipes 78, 79 and 80 are respectively positioned between hub 65 and the inward portion of ring 69, rings 69 and 70 and rings 70 and 71 whereby to feed separate fluid inputs into the wedging annuli therebetween.

In operation of the rotor of FIG. 6, feed from below comes up into annulus 81 defined between hub 65 and disc portion 68e and is first wedged into the reducing annulus defined between peripheral drive plate portion 64a and the upper surface of disc 68. Simultaneously, feed from pipe 78 passes into annulus 82 defined between the upper surface of drive plate 64 and the undersurface of ring 69. This fluid mixes with fluid from annulus 81 prior to final wedging into the first orifice gap. The atomized mixture then passes out from the first orifice gap into annulus 83 into which optionally a third fluid quantity has also been fed by pipe 79. This last feed may be an additional quantity of the fluid fed through pipe 78, an additional quantity of the fluid fed into annulus 81 originally or a completely different third fluid. The original mixture and the new addition then mix prior to wedging into the second orifice gap which is defined between the peripheral edge of ring 70 and the upper side of disc 68. The double mixture, then, emerges atomized or filmed from this orifice gap into annulus 84 where it is optionally joined by a further fluid input from pipe 80. This may be a fourth new fluid, or any other fluid previously added to the mixture. The entire quantity, then, passes to the final orifice gap and is wedged thereinto between the peripheral edge 2f ring 71 and the peripheral upper surface of discs 68 and Referring to FIG. 7, therein is shown a fourth form of the subject mixing and atomizing rotor. Drive shaft 85 is seized or fixed to hub 86 by conventional means op tionally including key 87. Hub 86 has opening 88 there through to receive shaft 85 and has fixed peripherally thereto first drive plate 89. Drive plate 89 has peripheral portion 89a thereof and inward faired connecting portion 89b connecting same to hub 86. Additionally, drive plate 89 has bolt holes 890 therethrough adapted to receive bolts 90 therein. Upper shrouding disc 91 has peripheral downwardly turned portion 91a, the latter having outwardly and downwardly beveled wedging surface 91b inwardly thereof defining one-half of an atomizing orifice. Bolt holes 91c receive bolts 90 therethrough and central upwardly turned portion 91d has feed tube sealing shelf 91c formed therein. Lower disc 92 has peripheral upwardly turned portion 92a with upwardly and outwardly beveled wedging surface 92d therein cooperating with wedging surface 91b to define an atomizing orifice of the type previously described, preferably like that shown in the H. W. Stratford patent, supra. Bolt holes 920 are formed through disc 92 to receive the lower portions of bolt 90 and nuts 90a, while inwardly, downwardly turned portion 92d has shelf portion 926 formed therein to receive a feed tube flange in the manner shown in FIG. 2. A second plate 93 having central hub 94 and peripheral zone 93a is provided, optionally or preferably of substantially the same radius and peripheral form as drive plate 89. Plate 93 is spaced vertically below plate 89 and has central opening 95 through hub 94. Bearing 96 is received in opening 95 encircling secondary feed tube 97. The latter may have horizontal upper flange 98 at the upper end thereof overlying the upper surface of hub 94. Suitable shims 99 (between upper disc 91 and drive plate 89), 100 (between plates 89 and 93) and 101 (between lower plate 93 and lower disc 92), all encircling bolts 90, respectively, space the previously described parts from one another whereby to provide three separate feed annuli 102 (between upper disc 91 and drive plate 89), 103 (between upper plate 89 and lower plate 93) and 104 (between lower plate 93 and lower disc 92).

In operation of the rotor of FIG. 7, it is assumed that feed tubes shelve at 91e and 92e as in FIG. 2. Drive shaft 85 rotates drive plate 89 and thereby lower plate 93 and discs 91 and 92 by virtue of the bolt connections 90. Feed tube 97 does not rotate, but has a friction sliding fit via bearing 96. A first fluid is fed into annulus 104, a second fluid into annulus 103 via feed tube 97 and a third fluid into annulus 102. None of these fluids mix or meet until they pass the peripheral edges of plates 89 and 93 whereby same can mix prior to atomization out through the orifice defined by the wedging surfaces 91b and 92b. It should be noted that additional lower plates analogous to 93 may be multiplied therebelow between same and lower disc 92 by providing feed tubes concentric within one another communicating to the separate plates stacked below drive plate 89.

With respect to all forms shown, it should be appreciated that the rotor shell may be driven in rotation, while the divider plate or plates may remain static. This requires only that the drive shaft for the rotor be decoupled from the dividers and coupled with the rotor shell elements, while a static mount be provided for the dividers with suitable rotation seals.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An atomizing rotor comprising, in combination, an upper shrouding disc, a lower accelerating disc of substantially like form and dimension to the upper disc, said upper and lower discs positioned in substantially parallel, axially oriented, edge opposing relationship whereby to enclose a zone therebetween and also define an atomizing orifice therebetween peripherally thereof, means for feeding a first fluid substantially centrally of the upper disc into said zone, means for feeding a second fluid substantially centrally of the lower disc into said zone, plate means dividing a central portion of said zone between the upper and lower discs into two separate centrally noncommunicating fluid receiving spaces, each said space communicating substantially centrally thereof with a feed means to one said disc, said spaces communicating with one another peripherally of said plate and inwardly of the disc peripheries to provide a mixing zone internally of said discs and the atomizing orifice formed therebetween, said discs oupled together for simultaneous rotation thereof as a rotor assembly, and means coupled to one member of said rotor assembly operative to drive same in rotation.

2. Apparatus as in :claim 1 wherein the plate means comprises a substantially circular plate extending radially a distance substantially less than the radius of said discs.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the plate means comprises a substantially circular plate extending radially a distance only slightly less than the radius of said discs.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the peripheral zones of said discs, in section, taper toward one another whereby to provide a fluid wedging zone short of the discharge orifice.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the peripheral zones of said discs, in section, taper toward one another, the peripheral zone of said plate means tapers to a substantial knife edge and the plate means is of such radius as to be positioned, in a portion of its edge, between the disc edge tapered zones.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the plate means comprises a substantially circular plate extending radially a distance substantially less than the radius of said discs, and at least one turbulence inducing baflle is fixed to each of said discs inner face peripheral of said plate means and short of said disc peripheries.

7. An atomizing rotor comprising, in combination, a hollow centered upper shrouding ring, a hollow centered lower accelerating ring, said upper and lower rings posi tioned in axially oriented, facing relationship whereby to enclose a zone therebetween and also define an atomizing orifice between the periphery of one of said rings and a portion of said other ring, means for feeding a first fluid substantially centrally of the upper ring into said zone, means for feeding a second fluid substantially centrally of the lower ring into said zone, plate means dividing a central portion of said zone between the upper and lower rings into two separate, centrally noncommunicating fluid receiving spaces, each said space communicating substantially centrally thereof with a feed means to one said ring, said spaces communicating with one another peripherally of said plate and inwardly of the ring peripheries to provide a mixing zone internally of said rings and the atomizing orifice formed therebetween, means coupled to one of said rings operative to drive same in rotation.

8. An atomizing rotor comprising, in combination, a lower accelerating disc, means for feeding a fluid substantially centrally of said lower accelerating disc, a first ring substantially frusto-conical in transverse section fixed to said disc concentric of the central axis thereof with the base of the cone approaching the upper surface of said disc to form therewith an atomizing orifice, means for feeding a fluid substantially centrally of said first ring, plate means dividing a central portion of the zone between said disc and first ring into two separate noncommunicating fluid receiving spaces, at least one additional ring substantially frusto-conical in transverse section fixed to said disc concentric to the central axis thereof and said first ring with the base of said cone approaching the upper surface of said disc to form therewith an atomizing orifice and means for feeding a fluid substantially centrally of said additional ring but peripheral to the center of said first ring, means coupling said disc, plate means and at least one of said rings for simultaneous rotation thereof as a rotor assembly and means coupled to one member of said rotor assembly for driving same in rotation.

9. An atomizing rotor comprising, in combination, an upper shrouding disc, a lower accelerating disc of substantially like form and dimension to the upper disc, said upper and lower discs positioned in substantially parallel, axially oriented edge opposing relationship whereby to enclose a zone therebetween, means for feeding a first fluid substantially centrally of the upper disc into said zone, means for feeding a second fluid substantially centrally of the lower disc into said zone, a plurality of plate means dividing a central portion of said zone between the upper and lower discs into at least three separate noncommunicating fluid receiving spaces, the upper and lower ones of said spaces communicating substantially centrally thereof with a feed means to one disc, means for feeding a third fluid substantially centrally of said plurality of plate means, means coupling said discs and plate means together for simultaneous rotation thereof as a rotor assembly and means coupled with one member of said rotor assembly for driving same in rotation.

10. An atomizing rotor comprising, in combination, an upper shrouding disc, a lower accelerating disc of substantially like form and dimensions to the upper disc, said upper and lower discs positioned in substantially parallel, axially oriented, edge opposing relationship whereby to enclose a zone therebetween, means for feeding a first fluid substantially centrally of the upper disc into said zone, means for feeding a second fluid substantially centrally of the lower disc into said zone, a plurality of plate means dividing a central portion of said zone between the upper and lower discs into at least three separate noncommunicating fluid receiving spaces, the upper and lower ones of said spaces communicating substantially centrally thereof with a feed means to one disc, means for feeding a third fluid substantially centrally of said plurality of plate means, means coupling said discs together for simultaneous rotation thereof as a rotor assembly and means coupled with one of said members of said rotor assembly for driving same in rotation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,655,932 1/ 1928 Wreesmann 239224 2,368,049 1/ 1945 Stratford 239224 2,990,011 6/ 1961 Stratford 239224 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,429 8/ 1924 Sweden.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. 

7. AN ATOMIZING ROTOR COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOW CENTERED UPPER SHROUDING RING, A HOLLOW CENTERED LOWER ACCELERATING RING, SAID UPPER AND LOWER RINGS POSITIONED IN AXIALLY ORIENTED, FACING RELATIONSHIP WHEREBY TO ENCLOSE A ZONE THEREBETWEEN AND ALSO DEFINE AN ATOMIZING ORIFICE BETWEEN THE PERIPHERY OF ONE OF SAID RINGS AND A PORTION OF SAID OTHER RING, MEANS FOR FEEDING A FIRST FLUID SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF THE UPPER RING INTO SAID ZONE, MEANS FEOR FEEDING A SECOND FLUID SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF THE LOWER RING INTO SAID ZONE, PLATE MEANS DIVIDING A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID ZONE BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER RINGS INTO TWO SEPARATE, CENTRALLY NONCOMMUNICTING FLUID RECEIVING SPACES, EACH SAID SPACE COMMUNICATING SUBSTAN- 